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Unlike everyone else, we waited until 2014 was actually over to recount our favorite albums. It’s been a great year for extreme music with a healthy amount of excellent releases. We saw the return of legends in GODFLESH and AT THE GATES as well as welcome returns from long recording breaks in BEHEMOTH and MAYHEM. And who can deny the GHOST B.C.-like popularity explosion of Japan’s BABYMETAL? Crazy shit. Metal is certainly a diverse genre.

For 2014, the APESHIT goons did not have any unanimous or semi-unanimous album of the year (i.e. 2013′s CARCASS‘ Surgical Steel). But MAYHEM, BLOODBATH, GODFLESH, and TRYPTIKON were near consensus picks. Sorry, ENTOMBED A.D. didn’t make it here.

VESANIA, the Polish symphonic black metal act that features current and former members of BEHEMOTH, DIMMU BORGIR, VADER, and DECAPITATED, have been toiling for over a decade. The band’s fourth full-length album, and first since 2007, Deus Ex Machina, is finally scheduled for release on October 28, 2014 via Metal Blade Records. The brand new track, “Innocence,” can be heard below.

There’s no singular unifying lyrical concept on Deus Ex Machina, but there’s a main theme, a coherent and deliberate thread running from the title through the music. The title of the album is a term from ancient Greek tragedy and translates to “god from the machine”. The idea for the concept was that a machine, typically a rudimentary crane, would lower a thespian playing god onto the stage to solve the seemingly unsolvable conflict in the plot. In modern entertainment, the term has evolved to primarily refer to a cheap solution in a poorly written script or novel. Alternatively, VESANIA‘s Deus Ex Machina is a call for any kind of help or intervention because all of the lyrics on the album are hopeless and show characters in situations that leaves them powerless.

To understand VADER‘s Tibi Et Igni is to know a few key facts. First, this is their best album since 2002′s Revelations. Second, Tibi Et Igni features the best collection of guitar solos in the band’s history. It’s a complimentary mix of intense, fast solos with whammy bar action (Peter), and PRIEST-style classic heavy metal soloing (Spider). New comer James Stewart is unquestionably the VADER‘s best drummer since the legendary Doc (R.I.P.). And most importantly, the album rules.

You get the famous VADER-style combined with songwriting magic that takes it to that special place. There’s a good balance of the blasting, ripping tracks, intensely catchy fast-mid tempo ones, and epic ones. Throughout the band’s history, they have released so many killer songs and many of the ones here rank among their best. This speaks to just how good Tibi Et Igni is.

“Hexenkessel” features some new dynamics for the band as the song has a great sense of tension that is built and released throughout. The guitar solo that comes in later really takes it to that next level. The album goes to another level with the eighth track, “The Eye of the Abyss.” The serene orchestrated intro and the undeniable sense of urgency and doom are excellent. The following track, “Light Reaper,” races to the finish like a one-way trip to hell. Closer, “The End,” may be the crown jewel of the VADER catalogue. Emotionally powerful and full of a sense of hope against a backdrop of finality , the song absolutely shines. It’s definitely the band’s JUDAS PRIEST-moment.

Three years subsequent to the formation of elite metal project, NADER SADEK, and the release of the collective’s debut album, In The Flesh, the final video from the album has been released.

“Re:Mechanic” was re-recorded with vocals by Travis Ryan (CATTLE DECAPITATION), backing vocals by Mike Hrubovac (MONSTROSITY, VILE) and Tim Rocheny (MAUSOLEUM), drums by Flo Mounier (CRYPTOPSY), main guitars from Rune Eriksen (AVA INFERI, ex-MAYHEM), leads from Orestis Nalmpantis, and bass by Kelly Conlon (PESSIMIST, ex-DEATH, MONSTROSITY). Yet in the ever-morphing fashion of the NADER SADEK entity, the video hosts an altered cast. While Eriksen and Mounier are featured, the rest of the filmed lineup is rounded out with bassist and vocalist Novy Nowak (CONDEMNATION, ex-VADER), as well as SADEK himself not only directing the video but also appearing as the Desert Druid.

The video was filmed on multiple continents, in both underground NYC locations as well as at the ancient Crystal Altar in Egypt.

“VADERMANIAX!!!! The next chapter, a new bible for all those hungry for extreme massacre and dark challenges is called: TIBI ET IGNI,” states VADER mainman Peter W. “Translated from Latin, this pretty symbolic title is ‘For You (and only You) and Fire.’ Ten songs + bonuses are in the plans to be created. We’ll record all of these bloody tracks of new incarnations. Today we’re calibrating the heavy weapon for James [Stewart, drummer], so his drumming can your blow heads off your necks. More details soon. Will we set anxiety in your minds? We’ll film the recording process to show the whole thing in a while. Of course, we’ll keep you informed about each next step in recordings regularly. STAY ALERTED!!!!”

One of the coolest death metal debut albums in recent years, gets the live treatment with Living Flesh. Band mastermind Nader Sadek gathered together his core recording line up of Steve Tucker (ex-MORBID ANGEL), Rune Eriksen (AVA INFERI, ex-MAYHEM), and Flo Mounier (CRYPTOPSY) along with Novy (ex-VADER, BEHEMOTH, DIES IRAE), Sean Frey, and Carmen Simoes. Do not mistake this for being just another live recording. Living Flesh is a special CD & DVD/Blu-ray live recording with a presentation and execution unlike any other live metal album.

Visually, Nader Sadek did a great job in creating a unique, artistic stage set up, complete with a throne, emaciated branches over the monitors, and Flo Mounier‘s drumkit in the audience facing the stage.

Soundwise, the production is immaculate. Warm tones, crystal clear drums, and great balance bring the performance to life. The whole band is on top of the game and one just help but wonder what this line-up could do on another NADER SADEK studio album. Lead guitarist Sean Frey does a great job in shredding every which way throughout the set.

Taken all the together, the eerie, melancholic, and slithering death metal of NADER SADEK comes to life and sounds infinitely better than In the Flesh. In many ways, Living Flesh demonstrates that NADER SADEK embodies what makes death metal so unique and special. Don’t miss out on one of the best new bands to emerge in years. Highly recommended. (self-released)

2011 was a very productive and enjoyable year for extreme music, perhaps the best in years. Thus, it was not an easy task choosing what we enjoyed best since they were just so many. 2011 also gave us unforgettably bad albums by LOU REED and METALLICA, flops by THE HAUNTED as well as controversial ones by MORBID ANGEL.

We look forward to another strong year in 2012 in which we will celebrate our 10 years online. Cheers for all of your support in 2011! Radikult!!Continue reading →

NADER SADEK, the supergroup featuring Steve Tucker (ex-MORBID ANGEL), Rune Eriksen (AVA INFERI, AURA NOIR, ex-MAYHEM), and Flo Mounier (CRYPTOPSY) have announced their first live appearance. The band will be performing their debut, In the Living Flesh, on November 20th, 2011 (8:30pm – 10:00pm) at Santos Party House (96 Lafayette St. New York, NY). Admission is free.

Novy (ex-VADER/ex-BEHEMOTH) will be playing bass as well as newcomer Sean Frey on lead guitar and a surprise female vocalist.

With stage design that resembles a Wagnerian Opera, band mastermind Nader Sadek seeks to take the death metal experience to new heights, as he is set to perform the new album In the Living Flesh live in its entirety alongside the production team behind the album. Upon entering the space, the audience is invited to view all of Sadek’s works on and off the stage, each attendee will be given “pamphlet” describing the evenings 3 acts. People can expect more than several props which are recognizable from Sadek‘s recent videos, such as glowing sulfuric crystals, caves, thrones, and a “elaborate setup for the drums.” The show will feature a lengthy overture by a masked surprise female vocalist performing inside a mirrored cube, guitarists enveloped by a web of vines and more. Conceptually, the theme behind the album, will manifest itself in the live setting, petroleum, man’s greatest discovery and tragedy will embrace the composition of the visual and aural assault. The performance will also be filmed live.

On Novy‘s involvement, Sadek says:

“What can i say? Of all the bands Novy has played in, the albums he is on are undisputedly my favorite. Coincidence? I think not. Bass is a very underrated, yet very important instrument, it can change the feel of a song entirely. It is definitely an important factor that Novy is also a songwriter, and understand the importance of composition within the structure of a song. His compositions within DIES IRAE are very impressive. I’m excitedly to welcome Novy to the flesh!”

Says Novy:

“Ladies And Gentleman.
“My name is Novy ,and I’m proud announce for you – I play with Nader Sadek. It’s a pleasure to play with great musicians in an amazing project like ‘In the Living Flesh.’ Listen to the new album and this project , feel this energy and emotion and…Move your black hearts to Nader Sadek‘s show on the 20th of November at Santo’s in New York City

Usually by the ninth album, a band is woefully in decline with no signs of regaining past glories. Thankfully, that is not the case with VADER. First things first, Welcome to the Morbid Reich is the best VADER album since 2002′s Revelations. When I say “best,” I mean that in every way possible.

Let’s discuss some of the highlights.

The album is solid from top to bottom. Gone are the less strong songs that have hindered the last few VADER albums.

Now departed drummer Pawe “Paul” Jaroszewicz‘s drum performance is absolutely excellent. So clean, so fast, and the barrage of fills perfectly compliments the guitars/bass.

Welcome to the Morbid Reich has the fastest blast beats in VADER history. It may be hard to believe but it’s true given the fact that VADER is one of the fastest bands out there. See “Come and See My Sacrifice.”

Perhaps for the first time in the band’s history, there is melody. While these melodic parts do not last long, they poignantly add color and an extra dimension to Welcome to the Morbid Reich.

Off the rails, SLAYER-style guitar solos have always been a mainstay in VADER‘s repertoire but this album has many of the tastiest and best written solos in their catalogue.

There is double tracking of vocals on certain song parts with mainman Piotr singing with his usual vocals along with his higher vocals (i.e. DEICIDE) that adds a nice touch. Fans will be wondering why in the world he didn’t chose to include his higher vocals much earlier in the band’s history.

Welcome to the Morbid Reich has got the songs, the new dimensions in sound, and just that ripping and blasting style that only VADER can play. Hail the godfathers of Polish death metal! (Nuclear Blast Records)